Featured Cover Artist: Lisa Greig
Lisa Greig grew up in a creative atmosphere in Sydney, Australia. Her parents were graphic designers who worked from home and had many artist friends who stopped by.
Art has been her passion since she was a little girl. “I love the creative process—whether it’s lino carving, oil painting, screen printing, making greeting cards, or doing art projects with my two girls. It’s a passion that needs to be channeled on a regular basis.”
When Lisa graduated from Sydney College of the Arts at the University of Sydney, she received a Bachelor of Visual Arts degree with high distinction. Her art sold at Balmain Markets in Sydney and her greeting cards were sold in stores along the east coast of Australia.
Lisa came to Hawai‘i Island to extend her lomilomi training with Aunty Margaret Machado, to swim, and to tone harmonics with the wild dolphin pods off the Kona coast.
“When I arrived in Hawai‘i in 1999 it was the ‘āina [land] and nature that spoke to me. I experienced a series of spiritual awakenings and guidance that deeply made me feel like I had come home. I grew up in Australia and have traveled to many places overseas and yet never had I experienced being one with nature. This is where my artwork blossomed.”
Lisa had the wonderful opportunity to dance hula under the tutoring of Kawaikapuokalani Hewett with Hālau Hula Na Lei Kapua O Kaua‘i for three years on Kaua‘i before moving to Hawai‘i Island.
It was that extensive training where she was immersed into the Hawaiian culture through the language, the myths and stories, creating implements and lei, and feeling the inner spiritual connection with the ‘āina and her body as one.
“This connection I celebrate in my artwork. The exquisite beauty of Hawai‘i and the mana, the vibrancy and life force all around me,” says Lisa.
When Lisa creates a hand painted linoleum block print, she thoroughly researches the Hawaiian birds, plants, and their environments.
After researching native species in their habitat, Lisa and her family take field trips to observe, photograph, and make color notes for future reference. Using her photos she spends extensive time on her drawing and composition before transferring the finished image onto the linoleum block.
Lisa uses the sun to soften the linoleum block, which makes it easier to carve the design. Even though she uses regular lino carving tools, her favorites are her Stanley knife and a plastic spoon.
“One of the reasons I love doing lino cuts is because I can do it at my kitchen table! I use plastic spoons as my burnishes and picnic plates as my paint palettes. My artwork is displayed in my massage studio and living room.”
Once the design is carefully carved, the block is inked with a roller. It is then printed onto Japanese rice paper by pressing the surface with a plastic spoon. Then it is carefully hand painted.
Each year Lisa is inspired to create a piece for the Hawai‘i Nei Exhibition—an art contest celebrating native species of Hawai‘i Island. In 2011, she won second place for the Adult Amateur 2D category, and in 2011, she won honorable mention in the same category. This year’s contest artwork will be on display the month of November at the Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center in Hilo.
When she’s not creating art, Lisa is outdoors playing in the ocean and take daytrips exploring and hiking with her loving husband, Kawena, and two daughters, Erica and Mahina. ❖
Contact Lisa Greig: OlaMaiMassage.com/lisas-art, 808.331.2957
